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Housing of the Future: UD to Construct $20 Million Residence Hall With Space for Classes
The University of Dayton is building 21st century residential facilities that mix living and learning.
May 19, 2003
Dayton, Ohio -- The University of Dayton is building 21st century residential facilities that mix living and learning -- all to accommodate a new generation of students.
The University of Dayton will begin construction this month on a $20 million three-wing four story brick residence hall that will house nearly 400 first- and second-year students and include two futuristic classrooms, conference rooms, campus ministry offices, a bookstore, post office, credit union, food emporium and free-standing chapel. A fast-track project, it's slated to open in August 2004 on the northeast end of Founders Field. The 160,000-square-foot project is expected to be funded through internal funds and tax-exempt bonds.
At the same time, UD is constructing the first phase of ArtStreet, an innovative $9 million housing and arts education complex near the McGinnis Center in the student neighborhood, and building five new single-family homes on Stonemill Road to accommodate another 25 students. The first phase of ArtStreet, to be completed by fall 2005, will include six two-story townhouses and five loft apartments, sitting above performance spaces and artist studios. Proposed plans include a cafe, space for the campus radio station and a recording studio. ArtStreet will initially provide housing for 56 students, both art and non-art majors.
"The University of Dayton is building for the future," said Daniel J. Curran, president, who accelerated plans for the new residence hall and is spurring the renovation of older facilities. "We're a strong academic institution, but we need to address where students live and learn. The new residence hall and ArtStreet are starting the revitalization of our student housing. The new houses in the student neighborhood signal that we're committed to maintaining the front porch feel of the neighborhood that students love."
Like most residential universities, UD built large residence halls 40 years ago when the nation's colleges enjoyed a huge enrollment boom. According to a 1996 report by the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, about 1 billion square feet, or 26 percent of the space on college campuses, was built in the 1960s.
"Our overwhelmingly residential nature has been very attractive to students. With the construction going on this summer, we're demonstrating to prospective students and their parents what future housing will look like. It's a major part of positioning ourselves," said William C. Schuerman, vice president for student development and dean of students. "We're combining learning and residential space near the core of campus. The new residence hall will allow us swing space to begin updating wings or portions of Marycrest, Stuart and Founders halls."
In all, UD plans to replace or renovate residential space for 1,000 students between now and 2010, according to Schuerman. About 85 percent of UD's 6,550 full-time undergraduates live in UD residence halls, apartments or houses with another 7 percent residing in landlord housing.
This is UD's second experience with a fast-track project. The $6.75 million Lawnview Apartments, which house 165 juniors and seniors in four-person apartments, opened in 2000.
The Miller-Valentine Group is the general contractor for the project. Architects include the local firm of Edge & Tinney Architects Inc. and Lotti Krishan & Short Inc., a Tulsa, Okla., firm that specializes in student housing. UD trustees approved the project at their May 16 meeting.
The construction of the new residence hall has moved up the initial phase of a $4 million baseball facility near the UD Arena marquee on Edwin C. Moses Drive. The men's team will move there from Stuart Field next spring. A $1.4 million track and football practice field will be built to the north of it. The track will be ready this fall, but the football team won't use the new practice facility until spring of 2004. Plans also include construction of a new softball field. Two new intramural fields in the space formerly occupied by the baseball field will be completed by this fall.
Other construction work on campus this summer includes completion of the second phase of a $22 million science center that connects Sherman and Wohlleben Halls and the creation of a"college mall" -- greenspace where the tennis courts now sit next to Kennedy Union. New tennis courts are expected to be constructed in 2004.
The move of the bookstore will free space in Chaminade Hall for renovation for the School of Education and Allied Professions. University officials are eyeing the campus post office as a possible site for a small museum. "It's all part of the University of Dayton's long-range master plan and the continued beautification of campus," Curran said.
For interviews, contact Bill Schuerman at (937) 229-3311 and Rick Perales, director of facilities management, at (937) 229-4339.
Contact: Teri Rizvi
OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469-1679
(937) 229-3241
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